These Beautiful Watermelon Patterns Are Driving Everyone Crazy

Throughout the internet, commentators have been mystified by the cause of the curious swirls and patterns that they sometimes find inside of watermelons, some even implying that they’re remnants of 17th-century watermelon DNA. The truth behind these strange and beautiful shapes, however, is a little bit simpler.

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Most farmers and agricultural scientists believed that “hollow heart” watermelons were caused by under- or over-watering until 2014, when University of Delaware agricultural specialist Gordon Johnson helped prove that the issue actually has to do with improper pollination. Watermelons are sensitive to changes in water/moisture levels, however, and variations can cause a host of other issues as well.